jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Throughout the U.S., and especially for us in the west, the extractive and logging industries have fallen on hard times. Coal mining for a long time was a stable industry in Utah that provided jobs and prosperity to small towns. All that activity has slowed, and as the song goes, "the times they are a-changing". We travel fairly extensively throughout the Rocky Mountain states and see first hand the evidence of this change...shuttered storefronts and abandoned homes. Many of these towns are trying to reinvent themselves as tourist attractions, some are successful.

Anyhow, on the way home from a recent day trip, we took a swing through Helper, Utah, which is only a few blocks long. Helper, and it's neighbor Price, Utah are feeling this change as the coal, mining, oil & gas industries are slowing or shutting down. Helper is named for the train engines that helped push coal railroad cars over the steep Soldier Summit Pass towards Salt Lake City.

1. Now this is a cheap rate for a room!

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2. Boutique little sandwich shop

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3. a great hotel/restaurant in its day

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4. Empty for a long time

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5. Another closed storefront

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6. No movies today

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7. Wonder what those girls upstairs were up to?

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8. Now a cute boutique shop

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Chuckwal Loc: Boynton Beach Florida

Cool set and a great story America past and present
in combination
thanks
chuck

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Nice shots...

Quixdraw Loc: x

Just an observation - local industry is critical of course, but there is another factor. Here in Montana, towns that are too close to major population centers are gradually withering away. What too close is varies - I'd guess it at around two hours travel one way. Towns at that distance and beyond, are generally relatively healthy. Obviously, the Amazon effect applies, much as Sears Roebuck and the railroad did in another century. Enjoyable, well taken photos!

Bob Mevis Loc: Plymouth, Indiana

Nice set and sad about the work situation. Thanks for posting.

vicksart Loc: Novato, CA -earthquake country

A very interesting and nicely shot series.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Sad to see, very good series, Jederick.

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

These are excellent. The shots are very well done and the subjects are unique and interesting!

gsmith051 Loc: Fairfield Glade, TN

Nice set. Yes, things do change! Thanks for posting.

/George

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

I really like the set, it shows the end of an era. Small town America disappears in one of three ways. Some of the remoter ones just fade away as the populations move away or die. Others, like my home town of Santa Clara, California, are adsorbed by a growing megatropolis, loose their identity and cease to exist in anything but name. Finally there are the few that are far enough from the big cities to avoid incorporation. They usually retain their identify but loose their authenticity. Remoteness is the only hope for "Small Town USA.

Tom85

The price for the Orange Crush is pretty good too. Interesting photo story.

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Thanks for sharing. You give me the motivation to do that tour and see first hand. Great sequence and images.

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

You're welcome and thanks for stopping by, Chuck!!

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Thank You...appreciate you looking!!

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

[quote=quixdraw]Just an observation - local industry is critical of course, but there is another factor. Here in Montana, towns that are too close to major population centers are gradually withering away. What too close is varies - I'd guess it at around two hours travel one way. Towns at that distance and beyond, are generally relatively healthy. Obviously, the Amazon effect applies, much as Sears Roebuck and the railroad did in another century. Enjoyable, well taken photos![/quote

Good observation and we see more of this happening all the time where the bigger towns draw from the smaller surrounding towns. Thanks for looking and commenting qd!!